CDCHQ "3·1 Jeol Rally, COVID-19 Resurgence Concerns... Please Cancel If Possible"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering a opening remark at the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting for COVID-19' held on the 26th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Health authorities have appealed to cancel urban rallies on March 1st as much as possible to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19.

Kwon Deok-cheol, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, stated in his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 1st, "There are plans for rallies in various parts of the city to mark March 1st, but the painful memory of COVID-19 infections spreading through the rally at Gwanghwamun on Liberation Day last year is still vivid," and added, "If you are planning a rally, please cancel it as much as possible."

Deputy Head Kwon said, "If the rally proceeds despite this, the organizers should strictly comply with quarantine rules such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing while adhering to the reported number limit," and urged, "Also, please refrain from having meal gatherings after the rally."

He continued, "Relevant ministries and local governments should thoroughly inspect the rally sites to ensure compliance with quarantine rules so that the March 1st rallies do not become a trigger for the resurgence of COVID-19," emphasizing the importance of on-site checks.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccination, Deputy Head Kwon requested, "The Korea Communications Commission, the National Police Agency, and other related ministries should respond strictly to 'fake news.'"

He said, "Recently, cases of fake news and rumors related to vaccination have been spreading seriously," and added, "This can be seen as a serious crime that obstructs our journey to form herd immunity through vaccination and restore the lost daily life."

He also explained, "It has been four days since the start of vaccination for daily life recovery, and the vaccination is progressing smoothly," adding, "More than 200 million doses of vaccines have already been administered worldwide, but adverse reaction cases have been extremely rare and mostly mild symptoms."

Deputy Head Kwon expressed concern, saying, "Perhaps due to the three-day holiday and warm weather, many people have flocked to major tourist spots and large shopping malls nationwide," and added, "Along with vaccination, I am very worried that the awareness of quarantine might have melted away like snow in the spring breeze."

He urged, "Please make every effort to strengthen quarantine measures to reduce confirmed cases in the metropolitan area," emphasizing, "If quarantine rules are not properly followed at a time when activity increases with the warm spring and the start of the new school term, COVID-19 could resurge."